Callistemon Plant Named &#39;CNU15&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Callistemon plant named ‘CNU15’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact growth habit, cylindrical inflorescences comprised of an abundance of light pink flowers, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Callistemon citrinus.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Callistemon disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘CNU15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘CNU15’ is the result of a controlled cross-pollination breeding program carried out by the inventor at a commercial plant breeding facility in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October of 2014. The inventor performed a controlled cross-pollination of the seed parent, Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ (South African Plant Breeder's Rights grant number ZA 20043189) with Callistemon ‘Mauve Mist’ (unpatented), the pollen parent. The resulting seedlings were grown for two years to evaluate for new and distinct characteristics. In October of 2016, the inventor selected the new Callistemon plant for its compact growth habit and light pink flowers. This new and distinctive cultivar was given the name ‘CNU15’

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘CNU15’, by way of stem cuttings, was first initiated in 2016 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Through greater than four subsequent generations of asexual propagation, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CNU15’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CNU15’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CNU15’ as a new and distinct Callistemon cultivar:

-   -   1. Callistemon ‘CNU15’ exhibits a compact growth habit; and     -   2. Callistemon ‘CNU15’ exhibits cylindrical inflorescences with         an abundance of light pink flowers; and     -   3. Callistemon ‘CNU15’ exhibits flowers with light pink exserted         stamens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘CNU15’. This plant is approximately 36 months old.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical inflorescence of ‘CNU15’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in May of 2022 and describe a 6-year-old ‘CNU15’ plant grown in the ground in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. The plant was allowed to grow with full sun exposure and maintained with sporadic overhead irrigation during prolonged drought conditions and slow-release granular fertilizer applications. The plant received a light prune, biannually. No pest or disease control measures were utilized in production.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘CNU15’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1986 (third edition).

A botanical description of ‘CNU15’, comparisons with the parents, comparisons with sibling cultivars, and a comparison with the most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Evergreen shrub with a compact, globular             growth habit.         -   Plant profile.—Rotund.         -   Height.—120 cm from the soil level to the top of the foliar             plane.         -   Plant spread.—120 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 120 days to             produce a rooted cutting at approximately 25 degrees             Celsius.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—32 weeks to produce a             fully rotted 15 cm container.         -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             typical Callistemon pests and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 9             through 11; moderate tolerance to rain; moderate to high             tolerance to wind; drought tolerant once established. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Moderately dense and freely branched rooting; roots             are moderately fibrous.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep. -   Stem:     -   -   General branching habit.—A single main stem, freely             branching from the base, with an abundance of lateral             branches.         -   Quantity of main stems per plant.—1.         -   Diameter of the main stem.—9.5 cm at soil level.         -   Abundance of lateral branches.—Abundant.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Approximately 74 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Attitude of lateral branches.—Outward to upright.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Texture, juvenile.—Tomentose.         -   Texture, mature and oldest wood.—Glabrous and becoming             progressively fissured and furrowed with age, followed by             exfoliation of the outer bark in small segments, revealing             yet more fissured and furrowed bark beneath.         -   Luster.—Slightly glossy to matte.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile lateral branches.—Greyed-purple, nearest to             RHS 184D, and becoming progressively suffused with             yellow-green, RHS 144D, and later with greyed-orange,             nearest to RHS 164C.         -   Color, mature lateral branches.—Greyed-orange, distally,             nearest to in between 164C and 164D; nearest to a             combination of greyed-white and greyed-green, proximally,             RHS 156C and 196D.         -   Color, main stem.—Exfoliating bark is a combination of             greyed-green and brown, nearest to RHS 196A, 200A, 200B, and             200D; exposed wood below the exfoliating bark is             greyed-orange, nearest to a combination of RHD 164A,             164C,164D, and 166C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Attitude.—Upward and outward.         -   Lamina.—Shape — Nearest to oblanceolate. Aspect — Flat to             very slightly carinate; margins occasionally revolute.             Dimensions — 5.9 cm long and 1.05 cm wide. Apex — Broad             acute with a very short, soft mucronate tip. Base — Cuneate.             Margin — Entire; not undulated. Texture of the juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — Tomentose. Texture of the             juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Tomentose. Texture of             the mature foliage, adaxial surface — Coriaceous; glabrous.             Texture of the mature foliage, abaxial surface — Coriaceous;             glabrous. Luster of the juvenile foliage, adaxial surface —             Matte. Luster of the juvenile foliage, adaxial surface —             Matte. Texture of the mature foliage, abaxial surface —             Moderately glossy. Texture of the mature foliage, abaxial             surface — Matte to slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between greyed-red             and greyed-purple, RHS 182B and 185C. Lamina becomes             progressively suffused with green, RHS 1378, with age.             Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between             greyed-red and greyed-purple, RHS 182B and 185C. Lamina             becomes progressively suffused with green, RHS 137C, with             age. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between             green and yellow-green, RHS 137A and 147A. Mature foliage,             abaxial surface — Green, nearest to in between RHS 137B and             137C. Venation — Pattern — Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface —             Same as the surrounding foliage; nearest to in between green             and yellow-green, RHS 137A and 147A. Color, adaxial surface             — Same as the surrounding foliage; green, nearest to in             between RHS 1378 and 137C.         -   Petiole.—Length — 0.25 cm. Diameter — 0.1 cm at the base.             Strength — Strong. Texture, juvenile — Tomentose. Texture,             mature — Smooth; glabrous. Luster, juvenile — Matte. Luster,             mature — Slightly glossy. Color, adaxial and abaxial             surfaces — Juvenile petioles are colored             greyed-greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 184D. Mature petioles             are yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145A and 151B.         -   Stipules.—None observed. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Habit.—Terminal leafy spikes, borne directly on the lateral             branches.         -   Natural flowering season.—Heaviest bloom period is spring,             with sporadic flowering through summer and a second larger             flush of blooms in autumn, in Zone 9 of the United States.         -   Time to flower or response time.—Approximately 6 months.         -   Dimensions.—Largest inflorescence observed is 6.1 cm long             and 5.8 cm in diameter.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—36, on the largest             observed inflorescence.         -   Peduncles.—None. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Broad oblong to obovoid.         -   Length.—6.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—3.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Coriaceous; proximal end at the calyx is tomentose             and distal end at the flower petals is glabrous.         -   Luster.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144B and             147A; immature sepal lobes are suffused with greyed-purple,             nearest to RHS 1856. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape, type.—Rotate, with a single whorl of petals.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Attitude.—Upright to outward.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.         -   Diameter.—Diameter of the corolla is 6.75 mm; the width             across the exserted stamens at their distal end is 18.0 mm.         -   Depth.—Depth of the corolla, including the stamens, is 24.0             mm.         -   Pedicels.—None; flowers are sessile.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Campanulate with sepal lobes adpressed to the             corolla at anthesis. Length — 4.5 mm, including the sepal             lobes. Diameter — 3.75 mm, distally, at the sepal lobes.             Color of the calyx tube — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 144B and 144C. Sepal lobes — Quantity — 5. Shape —             Deltoid. Dimensions — 1.0 mm long and 1.9 mm wide at the             base. Apex — Obtuse. Base — Fused to the calyx tube. Margin             — Entire. Texture — Tomentose. Luster — Matte. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144C and 145A, and             heavily suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185B.         -   Petals.—Quantity — 5. Arrangement — Rotate. Length —             3.25 mm. Width — 2.75 mm. Shape — Near orbicular. Apex —             Obtuse. Base — Truncate. Margin — Entire; no undulation.             Texture, inner surface — Glabrous; coriaceous. Texture,             outer surface — Glabrous; coriaceous. Petal color — When             opening, inner surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C             and suffused with 145A. When opening, outer surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to in between 145A and 145B. Fully             opened, inner surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C             and suffused with 145A. Fully opened, lower surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to in between 145A and 145B. Petal             venation color — No venation is visible. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens — Quantity — As many as 45 observed.             Anthers — Attachment — Dorsifixed. Shape — Oblong.             Dimensions — 0.75 mm long and 0.4 mm wide. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 150A and 151D, and             aging to greyed-orange, nearest to a combination of RHS 164D             and 165C. Filaments — Length — 17.0 mm, on average. Diameter             — 0.25 to 0.30 mm. Color — Light red-purple, nearest to in             between RHS 70D and 73B. Amount of Pollen — Moderately             abundant. Pollen color — Yellow, nearest to RHS 4A.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil — Quantity — One. Length — 17.0 mm. Style             — Length — 16.0 mm, on average. Diameter — 0.5 mm. Color —             Yellow-green, RHS 145D, at the base and becoming darker             towards and at the stigma, nearest to in between RHS 145B             and 145C. Stigma — Shape — Near globular. Length — 1.0 mm.             Diameter — 0.75 cm. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 145A, and             lightly suffused with RHS 151D. Ovary position — Inferior. -   Seed and fruit: Seeds not observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU15’ differ from its seed parent, Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ (South African Plant Breeder's Rights grant number ZA 20043189), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘CNU15’ ‘Hot Pink’ General coloration Light pink. Red-purple. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU15’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, Callistemon ‘Mauve Mist’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘CNU15’ ‘Mauve Mist’ General coloration Light Pink. Purple. of the stamens.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU15’ may be distinguished from the most similar known commercial comparator, Callistemon ‘Angela’ (unpatented), by the characteristics described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘CNU15’ ‘Angela’ Plant height. Shorter than ‘Angela’. Taller than ‘CNU15’

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU15’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNU01’ (co-pending U.S. patent application No. 17/803,225), by the characteristics described in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Characteristic ‘CNU15’ ‘CNU01’ Growth habit. Compact; globular. Compact; globular to near columnar. Plant height. Shorter than ‘CNU01’. Taller than ‘CNU15’ General coloration Dark Pink. White. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU15’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNUO6’ (co-pending U.S. patent application No. 17/803,228), by the characteristics described in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Characteristic ‘CNU15’ ‘CNU06’ Plant size. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ Larger than ‘CNU15’. Foliage size. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ Larger than ‘CNU15’. Inflorescence size. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ Larger than ‘CNU15’. General coloration Dark Pink. Light Pink. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU15’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNUO7’ (co-pending U.S. patent application No. 17/803,227), by the characteristics described in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Characteristic ‘CNU15’ ‘CNU07’ Growth habit. Compact; globular. Upright; columnar. Plant height. Shorter than ‘CNU07’. Taller than ‘CNU15’ General coloration Dark Pink. White. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU15’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNU19’ (co-pending U.S. patent application No. 17/803,223), by the characteristics described in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Characteristic ‘CNU06’ ‘CNU19’ Growth habit. Compact; globular. Upright; columnar. Plant size. Smaller than ‘CNU19’. Larger than ‘CNU15’ General coloration Light pink. Dark pink. of the stamens. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A now and distinct variety of Callistemon plant named ‘CNU15’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 